SpaceX gives rare look inside Starlink factory: 70 satellites a week and mini lasers

SpaceX has offered a rare glimpse inside its Starlink satellite factory in Redmond, Washington, showcasing a facility capable of producing 70 satellites per week. The company released a video highlighting the assembly, packaging, and component production processes, demonstrating how it rapidly scales Starlink manufacturing. Alongside the production milestone, SpaceX revealed details about its mini laser technology, designed to allow third-party satellites and space stations to connect to the Starlink network at high speeds. This insight comes just ahead of Starship’s tenth test flight, which will deploy Starlink simulators to test Starship’s payload deployment capabilities.The Redmond facility can churn out 3,640 satellites per year, a massive increase from 2020, when SpaceX produced just 120 satellites per month. Senior directors Akash Badshah and Cornelia Rosu emphasized the speed of iteration and assembly, highlighting how the factory integrates fast-turnaround manufacturing with quality control. This production capability is essential as SpaceX seeks approval to operate up to 30,000 Starlink satellites, expanding global coverage and improving internet speeds worldwide.SpaceX is equipping its satellites with laser links, enabling communication between satellites and high-speed data routing. A newly developed mini laser allows third-party satellites and space stations to connect to Starlink. The device is designed for speeds of up to 25Gbps over distances of 4,000 km and was successfully tested on the Starlink G10-20 mission. This technology promises enhanced flexibility for space-based communication and expands the Starlink ecosystem beyond SpaceX-owned satellites.The tenth Starship test flight will carry eight Starlink simulators, designed to mimic next-generation Starlink satellites, testing Starship’s ability to deploy payloads efficiently. Starship’s larger capacity compared to Falcon 9 will allow SpaceX to launch larger satellite batches, accelerating constellation growth and reducing costs per satellite. The success of these deployments is critical for scaling the Starlink network globally and integrating mini-laser-enabled satellites in orbit.SpaceX also operates a factory in Bastrop, Texas, focused on producing Starlink antenna dishes, with output reaching 15,000 units per day. Together with the Redmond facility, these operations demonstrate SpaceX’s vertically integrated approach, controlling both satellite production and consumer hardware. This end-to-end capability is crucial for maintaining rapid rollout of the Starlink service while preparing for future upgrades and expanded connectivity solutions.